WO2011097842A1

WO2011097842A1 - Ink cartridge holder, ink cartridge, and ink jet printing system

Info

Publication number: WO2011097842A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/072473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronghua Sun
Original assignee: Ronghua Sun
Priority date: 2010-02-11
Filing date: 2010-05-05
Publication date: 2011-08-18
Also published as: JP2012520215A; CN101817258B; CN101817258A

Abstract

An ink jet printing system comprises some ink cartridges (26) and an ink cartridge holder (1). The ink cartridge holder (1) is installed on a printing frame (25) and has at least four cartridge installation positions (2), and the ink cartridges (26) can be installed independently and respectively on the cartridge installation positions (2). A chip is installed outside the cartridge holder (1) and comprises a PCB board (3) and some chip components. The chip components correspond to and are equal, in number, to the cartridge installation positions (2). The PCB board (3) has a control key (4), and the circuits of the control key (4) are electrically connected with the chip components. The ink cartridges (26) can be replaced without removing the cartridge holder (1) from the ink jet printing system, and the chip can be reset by pressing the control key (4).

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] INK CARTRIDGE HOLDER, INK CARTRIDGE, AND INK JET PRINTING SYSTEM

Technical Field

The invention relates to an inkjet printer. More particularly, the invention relates to a cartridge holder, ink cartridge, and a printing system.

Background Art

Existing inkjet printers, in general, have an internal frame 25, as shown in Figure 3. The frame 25 is provided with an inkjet printing head which, during printing, slides back and forth on the rail. The top of the frame 25 is open and the ink cartridges are installed therein. The frame 25 is provided with ink cartridge position locks and grooves 28, information pin for reading information on the chip, and an ink needle 20 for absorbing inks. The ink cartridges associated with the frame 25 comprise an ink chamber, chip, and ink supply port. This structure is designed for easy counting the number of printings and setting an alarm for replacing the ink cartridges when the number of printings reaches a given number. Because ink consumption varies depending on many factors, when the printer calls for replacing the cartridges, the cartridges may not be exhausted and thus the remaining inks therein are wasted.

　　For the current technology, ink cartridges have multiple colors; the ink cartridges are provided with chips and are placed inside the printer. When the inks are exhausted, the cartridges are replaced individually. This technology has a high material cost. There is also an ink cartridge which has multiple color cartridges joint together with a chip; when one of these color inks is exhausted, while other color inks are not, the entire cartridge is replaced, resulting in wastage and environment pollution. Some inkjet printers on the market can support ink cartridges installed therein to coordinate relatively well with separate ink cartridge chip structures by software resetting. But many printers on the market today do not support this feature; the ink cartridges have to be taken out of the printer to reset the chip count, as a result, causing the air to enter the print frame and ink cartridges and affect printing. Another commonly used printing system is the CISS; the top of the ink cartridges links ink lines which connect with external ink containers. The installation of this system requires certain techniques and dissembling of printer parts. This system is sensitive to temperature change and the printing varies accordingly. The ink container hanging outside the printer is prone to ink leakage; improper use of the ink lines will also affect the normal operation of the printer.

Technical Problem

The first objective of the invention is to solve the above deficiencies of the current printing technologies and to provide an ink cartridge holder which can be installed on the printing frame inside the inkjet printer.

　　The second objective of the invention is to provide ink cartridges which can be used in connection with the above-mentioned ink cartridge holder.

　　The third objective of the invention is to provide an inkjet printing system which can be conveniently installed and dissembled, enhance ink utilization, fit well with the printer, reset the chip count without removing the ink cartridges, and have reduced production costs.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the first objective, this invention provides an ink cartridge holder which can be installed on a printing frame inside the inkjet printer. The printing frame has at least four ink cartridge installation positions; on a side wall of the ink cartridge holder is installed a chip which is composed of a PCB board and chip components. The chip components correspond and equal, in number, to the ink cartridge installation positions. The PCB board is provided with a control key, the circuits of which electrically connect with each of the chip components respectively.

　　For the users to conveniently press the control key, said control key is set upward on the top of the ink cartridge holder and above the upper surface of the cartridge holder.

　　In order to ensure the ink cartridge holder to fit the printing frame and the ink cartridges, and to ensure the ink cartridges to smoothly provide inks, the cartridge holder is concave-shaped by the middle depression and side walls. The side walls have installation snaps which coordinate with locks on the printing frame. The cartridge installation positions are set on the depression part of the concave. The bottom of the cartridge installation positions has an ink needle connector and sharp needle convex corresponding, in location, to the ink needle of the printing frame. The location of the sharp needle convex corresponds to an air inlet of the ink cartridge. One of the side walls has a lock convex corresponding to the ink cartridge; and the other side wall has a first lock concave corresponding to the printing frame. The ink needle connector is a through hole or a downward tube with an inner sealing ring. To ensure the tight connection of the cartridge with the ink needle, the bottom of the cartridge installation positions is provided with a side wall retractor which coordinates with the ink cartridge.

　　To achieve the second objective, the invention provides an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge comprises an ink chamber which is a closed structure made by a top surface, a bottom surface, two corresponding narrow walls, and two corresponding wide walls; and an ink supply port connected with the ink chamber. The ink supply port is located in the front end of the cartridge holder. On a narrow wall near the ink supply port is installed a second lock concave which matches the cartridge installation positions. On the other corresponding narrow wall is installed a position yielding part which also matches the ink cartridge installation positions.

　　In order to effectively coordinate the cartridge holder with the ink cartridge, the top surface or the bottom surface has an air inlet. The ink supply port is an ink supply tube extending downwards from the ink chamber with a sealing ring at end. The ink supply port is located at the opening of the bottom surface and the opening is provided with a sealing film. The wide wall is provided with a retractor interface to coordinate with the side wall retractor of the cartridge holder.

　　In order to achieve the third objective, the invention provides an inkjet printing system. The printing system comprises a cartridge holder installed on a printing frame inside an inkjet printer; and ink cartridges. The cartridge holder has at least four cartridge installation positions. A chip is installed on outside the cartridge holder. The chip comprises a PCB board and chip components. The ink cartridge can be installed independently and respectively on the cartridge installation positions. The chip components correspond and equal, in number, to the cartridge installation positions. The PCB board is provided with a control key; and the circuits of the control key connect electrically with the chip components respectively. This structure is featured by that the ink cartridges can be replaced without removing the cartridge holder. The users can reset the chip and replace the cartridges by simply pressing the control key on the chip.

Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a top view of the combination of the cartridge holder, cartridge, and printing frame.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the combination of the cartridge holder, cartridge, and printing frame.

Figure 3 is an illustrative view of the printing frame of the current technology.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the cartridge holder of Embodiment 1.

Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of the cartridge holder of Embodiment 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge of Embodiment 1.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the ink cartridge of Embodiment 1.

Figure 8 is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge of Embodiment 1.

Figure 9 is a top view of the cartridge holder of Embodiment 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the cartridge holder of Embodiment 2.

Figure 11 is a three-dimensional view of the cartridge holder of Embodiment 2.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge of Embodiment 2.

Figure 13 is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge of Embodiment 2.

Mode for Invention

The following embodiments, coupling with the figures, further illustrate the invention.

EMBODIMENT 1

　　As shown in Figures 1-8, the printing system of this embodiment comprises a cartridge holder 1 installed on a printing frame 25 inside an inkjet printer; and an ink cartridge 26 which is compatible with the cartridge holder 1. The cartridge holder 1 has at least four cartridge installation positions 2. A chip is installed on outside the cartridge holder 1. The chip comprises a PCB board 3 and chip components. The chip components correspond to the cartridge installation positions 2 of the cartridge holder 1. The number of the chip components equals to the number of the cartridge installation positions 2, which equals to 4 in this embodiment. The chip components include an array of contacting points 27 which corresponds to and contact with chip probes 24 on the printing frame. The PCB board 3 is provided with a control key 4. The circuits of the control key 4 connect electrically with the chip components respectively. The control key 4 is set upwards on the cartridge holder 1 above the top surface of the cartridge holder 1. The cartridge holder 1 is concave-shaped by a middle depression and side walls. The side walls have installation snaps 6 which coordinate with locks 5 on the printing frame 25. The cartridge installation positions 2 are set in the depression part of the concave. The bottom of the cartridge installation positions 2 has an ink needle connector 7 and sharp needle convex 8 corresponding, in location, to the ink needle 20 of the printing frame 25. The location of the sharp needle convex 8 corresponds to an air inlet 9 of the ink cartridge 26. One of the side walls has a lock convex 10 corresponding to the ink cartridge 26. The other side wall has a first lock concave 11 corresponding to the printing frame 25. The ink needle connector 7 is a through hole.

　　The ink cartridge 26 which is compatible with the cartridge holder 1 described in this embodiment comprises an ink chamber 12 which is a closed structure made by a top surface, a bottom surface, two corresponding narrow walls, and two corresponding wide walls, and an ink supply port 13, ink refilling port 14 and air inlet 9 connected with the ink chamber 12. On a narrow sidewall of the ink chamber 12 is installed a second lock concave 15 which matches the cartridge installation positions 2. On the other corresponding narrow wall is installed a position yielding part 16 which also matches the ink cartridge installation positions 2.

　　In order to effectively coordinate with the cartridge holder, the air inlet 9 is set on the bottom surface of the ink chamber 12. The ink supply port 13 is set on the bottom surface of the ink chamber 12, the ink supply port 13 is an ink supply tube 17 extending downwards from the ink chamber 12 with a sealing ring 18 at end.

EMBODIMENT 2

As shown in Figures 9-13, for the inkjet printing system of this embodiment, the cartridge holder is provided with six cartridge installation positions 2. The ink needle connector 7 is a downward tube 19 which has an inner sealing ring 18. The bottom of the cartridge installation positions 2 is provided with a side wall retractor 21 which coordinates with the ink cartridge 26 to ensure the tight connection between the ink cartridge 26 and the ink needle 20.

To coordinate with the ink cartridge 26, the ink supply port 13 is installed on the opening of the bottom surface; and the opening is provided with a sealing film 22. The wide wall of the ink cartridge 26 is provided with a retractor interface 23 which is used to coordinate with the side wall retractor 21 of the cartridge holder 1.

Industrial Applicability

This invention provides an inkjet printing system, an ink cartridge holder, and an ink cartridge. The chip components and the cartridge holder structure are so designed that once the cartridge holder is installed on the inkjet printing frame, it stays on there permanently. When the ink is exhausted, the ink cartridge can be readily removed and replaced without dissembling the cartridge holder. Thus the inkjet printing system of the invention provides improved adaptability to environment. The ink cartridge no longer needs chips. Because the printing system requires only the compatibility of the ink cartridge holder with the printer, a variety of cartridge holders can be designed to fit different printers. The inner structure of the cartridge holder can be standardized so that different printers can share generalized ink cartridges. Therefore the costs for designing, manufacturing, and using the ink cartridges can be reduced.

Claims

An ink cartridge holder (1) being installed on a printing frame (25) inside an inkjet printer, said cartridge holder (1) having at least four cartridge installation positions (2), a chip being installed on outside the cartridge holder (1); said chip comprising a PCB board (3) and chip components; said chip components corresponding and equal, in number, to the cartridge installation positions (2); the PCB board (3) having a control key (4); and the control key (4) circuits are electrically connected with each of the chip components respectively.
The cartridge holder of claim 1, wherein the control key (4) is set upward above the top surface of the cartridge holder (1).
The cartridge holder (1) of claim 1 or 2, which is concave-shaped by the middle depression and side walls; the side walls are provided with installation snaps (6) which match the locks (5) on the printing frame (25); the cartridge installation positions (2) are set on the depression part of the concave; the bottom of the cartridge installation positions (2) have ink needle connector (7) and sharp needle convex (8) corresponding, in location, to the ink needle (20) of the printing frame (25); the location of the sharp needle convex (8) corresponds to an air inlet (9) of the ink cartridge (26); one of the side walls has a lock convex (10) corresponding to the ink cartridges (26); and the other side wall has a first lock concave (11) corresponding to the printing frame (25).
The cartridge holder (1) of claim 3, wherein the ink needle connector (7) is a through hole.
The cartridge holder (1) of claim 3, wherein the ink needle connector (7) is a downward tube (19) with an inner sealing ring (18).
The cartridge holder (1) of claim 3, wherein the bottom of the cartridge installation positions (2) has a hook (21) that rises upward and corresponds to the ink cartridge (26).
An ink cartridge (26) compatible with the cartridges holder (1) of claim 1, comprising:

an ink chamber (12) which is a closed structure made by a top surface, a bottom surface, two corresponding narrow walls, and two corresponding wide walls; and an ink supply port (13) which is connected with the ink chamber (12) wherein the ink supply port (13) is located in the front end of the cartridge holder (1); wherein on a narrow wall near the ink supply port (13) is installed a second lock concave (15) which matches the cartridge installation positions (2); on the other corresponding narrow wall is installed a position yielding part (16) which also matches the ink cartridge installation positions (2).
The ink cartridge (26) of claim 7, wherein the top surface or the bottom surface has an air inlet (9).
The ink cartridge (26) of claim 7, wherein the ink supply port (13) is an ink supply tube (17) extending downwards from the ink chamber (12) with a sealing ring (18) at end.
The ink cartridge (26) of claim 7, wherein the ink supply port (13) is located on the opening of the bottom surface and the opening is provided with a sealing film (22).
The ink cartridges (26) of claim 7, wherein the wide wall is provided with a retractor interface (23).
An inkjet printing system, comprising a cartridge holder (1) installed on a printing frame (25) inside an inkjet printer and an ink cartridge (26); wherein the cartridge holder (1) has at least four cartridge installation positions (2); wherein a chip is installed on outside the cartridge holder (1); said chip comprises a PCB board (3) and chip components; the ink cartridge (26) can be installed independently and respectively on the cartridges installation positions (2); The chip components correspond and equal, in number, to the cartridge installation positions (2); the PCB board (3) is provided with a control key (4); and the circuits of the control key (4) are connected electrically with the chip components respectively.
The inkjet printing system of claim 12, wherein the control key (4) is set upward on the cartridge holder (1) above the top surface of the cartridge holder (1).
The inkjet printing system of claim 12 or 13, wherein the cartridge holder (1) is concave-shaped by a middle depression and side walls; the side walls have installation snaps (6) which coordinate with locks (5) on the printing frame (25); the cartridge installation positions (2) are set in the depression part of the concave; the bottom of the cartridge installation positions (2) has an ink needle connector (7) and sharp needle convex (8) corresponding, in location, to the ink needle (20) of the printing frame (25); the location of the sharp needle convex (8) corresponds to an air inlet (9) of the ink cartridge (26); one of the side walls has a lock convex (10) corresponding to the ink cartridge (26); and the other side wall has a first lock concave (11) corresponding to the printing frame (25).
The inkjet printing system of claim 14, wherein the ink needle connector (7) is a through hole.
The inkjet printing system of claim 14, wherein the ink needle connector (7) is a downward tube (19) with an inner sealing ring (18).
The inkjet printing system of claim 14, wherein the bottom of the cartridge installation positions (2) is provided with a side wall retractor (21) which coordinates with the ink cartridge (26).